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Get Even
They got her man. Now she's going to get even...
GET EVEN, by the 'undisputed queen of crime writing' ( Guardian ) and Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Martina Cole tells the hard-hitting tale of the fearless Sharon Conway as she finally gets her shot at revenge...
Sharon Conway and Lenny Scott are childhood sweethearts. Everyone says they are too young, but nothing can keep them apart. Sharon doesn't question Lenny's business dealings and it isn't long before his reputation as a hard man destined for the top means they are living the good life with their sons.
But one night Lenny doesn't come home. It isn't the first time he has gone AWOL. But it is his last. He is found murdered - beaten to death in an act of brutality that shocks even the police. And Sharon never knows why.
Now, twenty years later, Sharon is about to find out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue. The time has come to... GET EVEN.
If you love powerful female characters, be sure to also read Martina Cole's GOODNIGHT LADY, THE KNOW and CLOSE. These ladies are strong, resilient and vengeful...
GET EVEN, by the 'undisputed queen of crime writing' ( Guardian ) and Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Martina Cole tells the hard-hitting tale of the fearless Sharon Conway as she finally gets her shot at revenge...
Sharon Conway and Lenny Scott are childhood sweethearts. Everyone says they are too young, but nothing can keep them apart. Sharon doesn't question Lenny's business dealings and it isn't long before his reputation as a hard man destined for the top means they are living the good life with their sons.
But one night Lenny doesn't come home. It isn't the first time he has gone AWOL. But it is his last. He is found murdered - beaten to death in an act of brutality that shocks even the police. And Sharon never knows why.
Now, twenty years later, Sharon is about to find out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue. The time has come to... GET EVEN.
If you love powerful female characters, be sure to also read Martina Cole's GOODNIGHT LADY, THE KNOW and CLOSE. These ladies are strong, resilient and vengeful...
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2015
614 people are currently reading
1739 people want to read
About the author
Martina Cole
112 books1,731 followersMartina Cole was born and brought up in Essex. She is the bestselling author of fourteen novels set in London's gangland, and her most recent three paperbacks have gone straight to No. 1 in the Sunday Times on first publication. Total sales of Martina's novels stand at over eight million copies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
January 23, 2022
Organised crime wife Sharon Conway spent most of her life with two men, both of whom had huge secret; this book told from multiple points of view is the story of her life and her two relationships with figures from the UK crime world.
This 21st published work by Cole, continues her 'if it ain't broke' attitude to story telling, with its varied cast of English, Irish and Jamaican descendent Londoners that make up her organised crime world underbelly; but what makes this book stand out from her other works is having gay protagonists in this super-macho (=frail ego) underworld. As ever she executes this concept from the viewpoint of the characters and does it quite well, albeit with her multiple use of clichés and tropes, which one could argue might be more representative of te subject matter? 6 out of 12. I just can't get enough of Cole's in depth internally focussed stories of the London and Essex 'underclass' and organised crime 'faces'.
This 21st published work by Cole, continues her 'if it ain't broke' attitude to story telling, with its varied cast of English, Irish and Jamaican descendent Londoners that make up her organised crime world underbelly; but what makes this book stand out from her other works is having gay protagonists in this super-macho (=frail ego) underworld. As ever she executes this concept from the viewpoint of the characters and does it quite well, albeit with her multiple use of clichés and tropes, which one could argue might be more representative of te subject matter? 6 out of 12. I just can't get enough of Cole's in depth internally focussed stories of the London and Essex 'underclass' and organised crime 'faces'.
March 23, 2022
3.5 Stars
Lenny Scott is a handsome man, big strong and an up and coming face in the underworld.
Sharon is everything Lenny could ever want, after meeting at school they are inseparable and when Sharon finds out she is having a baby, they can bring their plans forward to be a real family.
Jack Johnson is the main man and he takes Lenny into his business and under his watchful eye. As Lenny climbs up the ranks he is a force to be wary of.
But Lenny is also keeping a secret that could destroy his family and his status and that secret must never come out.
Of course as of all MC books there are some very unsavoury characters in it.
Set over a time span of 30 years it was a page turner and although I didn't love it I did still enjoy it.
When I first started reading gangster thrillers MC was the Queen of that Genre.
Her early books were fantastic, gritty and thrilling. Always waiting for October for her new release.
This was still an ok read for me. If your a fan of Martina Cole as I always will be you will enjoy this.
Martina Cole is very respected in this genre and of course I will continue to read whatever she writes and eagerly await next October...
Lenny Scott is a handsome man, big strong and an up and coming face in the underworld.
Sharon is everything Lenny could ever want, after meeting at school they are inseparable and when Sharon finds out she is having a baby, they can bring their plans forward to be a real family.
Jack Johnson is the main man and he takes Lenny into his business and under his watchful eye. As Lenny climbs up the ranks he is a force to be wary of.
But Lenny is also keeping a secret that could destroy his family and his status and that secret must never come out.
Of course as of all MC books there are some very unsavoury characters in it.
Set over a time span of 30 years it was a page turner and although I didn't love it I did still enjoy it.
When I first started reading gangster thrillers MC was the Queen of that Genre.
Her early books were fantastic, gritty and thrilling. Always waiting for October for her new release.
This was still an ok read for me. If your a fan of Martina Cole as I always will be you will enjoy this.
Martina Cole is very respected in this genre and of course I will continue to read whatever she writes and eagerly await next October...
October 16, 2015
Martina had once been the undisputed queen of the underworld. I thoroughly enjoyed her earlier work. As of late what was once a riveting read is now just a formula being followed with an attempt to emulate previous successes. Characters developed, changed and contradicted themselves. In reality a certain level of growth is expected however a complete 360 is farcical.
My reasoning for 3 stars is purely a respect for Martina's earlier work and newcomers to the author will enjoy this tale.
My reasoning for 3 stars is purely a respect for Martina's earlier work and newcomers to the author will enjoy this tale.
December 21, 2016
it was a good book to read but not very exciting for me sorry Martina Cole
August 16, 2016
I have always been a big fan of Martina Cole, but I’m the first to admit her last couple of books have left me feeling disappointed, with the same type of characters, similar plots, and dialogue that was neither new or particularly engaging! Every time I pick up Martina’s latest book I hope she has gone back to her earlier style of writing, they were amazing and very often I would read the whole book in one sitting! they were that engaging. So it was with great trepidation I picked up Get Even.
Get Even is delivered in very short chapters,which at times became a little irritating, some chapters were half a page long,which I though was unnecessary and distracting, I’m still trying to figure out the benefits of writing such short chapters. The characters seem to have been rehashed from previous books I’m sorry to say. Young boy destined to make it big in the crime world, a wife who doesn’t question her husbands business dealing and appears to be a “door mat”,and the “big” crime boss who is getting to old for the job, you get the picture. I found it really difficult to relate to any of the characters as they were just your average Gangland stereo types.
As anyone who has ever read a Martina Cole book will know, there is always a lot of swearing and Get Even is no exception, but in Martina’s defence it is in keeping with her characters and the plot, but after a while it becomes very repetitive. The plot follows the usual formula family, loyalty, treachery and secrets, while I’m sure this formula works for Martina, and continues to help her sale books, I feel I am re-reading one of her older books. Whilst this may suit loyal fans, personally I would like to see Martina up her game and provide her readers with something new and fresh.
If you are looking for a read that doesn’t tax the brain, with a half decent plot line you may enjoy Get Even, but personally I think there are much better authors out there in this genre, Kimberley Chambers is one who springs to mind.
First published on my blog http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Get Even is delivered in very short chapters,which at times became a little irritating, some chapters were half a page long,which I though was unnecessary and distracting, I’m still trying to figure out the benefits of writing such short chapters. The characters seem to have been rehashed from previous books I’m sorry to say. Young boy destined to make it big in the crime world, a wife who doesn’t question her husbands business dealing and appears to be a “door mat”,and the “big” crime boss who is getting to old for the job, you get the picture. I found it really difficult to relate to any of the characters as they were just your average Gangland stereo types.
As anyone who has ever read a Martina Cole book will know, there is always a lot of swearing and Get Even is no exception, but in Martina’s defence it is in keeping with her characters and the plot, but after a while it becomes very repetitive. The plot follows the usual formula family, loyalty, treachery and secrets, while I’m sure this formula works for Martina, and continues to help her sale books, I feel I am re-reading one of her older books. Whilst this may suit loyal fans, personally I would like to see Martina up her game and provide her readers with something new and fresh.
If you are looking for a read that doesn’t tax the brain, with a half decent plot line you may enjoy Get Even, but personally I think there are much better authors out there in this genre, Kimberley Chambers is one who springs to mind.
First published on my blog http://thebookreviewcafe.com
January 22, 2016
I went into the library and the most recent Martina Cole book, Get Even, had just come in. As I was at the desk at the right time, I got to borrow the book without waiting. What a lucky break! I have enjoyed most of the books by Martina Cole that I have read and when I had a chance to read this book ahead of the crowd, I was pleased. I met Martina Cole a few months previously at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writers' Festival. She is a very down to earth, real person. Get Even had not been published then, so it was interesting to have a chance to read the book.
Martina Cole is a British crime writer and businesswoman who was born in Essex, England on March 30, 1959. As of 2015 she has released twenty two novels about crime, most of which examine London's gangster underworld. Get Even is no exeption.
Sharon Conway and Lenny Scott are childhood sweethearts. Everyone says they are too young, but nothing can keep them apart. Lenny Scott is a handsome man, big strong and an up and coming face in the underworld. Sharon is everything Lenny could ever want, after meeting at school they are inseparable and when Sharon finds out she is having a baby, they can bring their plans forward to be a real family. Sharon does not question Lenny's business dealings and it is not long before his reputation as a hard man destined for the top means they are living the good life with their sons.
Jack Johnson is the main man and he takes Lenny into his business and under his watchful eye. As Lenny climbs up the ranks he is a force to be wary of. Lenny is also keeping a secret that could destroy his family and his status and that secret must never come out.
One night when Lenny does not come home. Shron does not worry as it is not the first time he has done this, but it is his last. He is found murdered. He has been beaten to death in an act of brutality that shocks even the police, and not even Sharon knows why. Only twenty years later, Sharon finds out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue.
Get Even is set over a time span of 30 years it is a page turner. I enjoyed the story and the way it was told. Martina Cole remains an excellent story teller. If you enjoy a good thriller, I recommend Get Even.
Valerie Penny
Martina Cole is a British crime writer and businesswoman who was born in Essex, England on March 30, 1959. As of 2015 she has released twenty two novels about crime, most of which examine London's gangster underworld. Get Even is no exeption.
Sharon Conway and Lenny Scott are childhood sweethearts. Everyone says they are too young, but nothing can keep them apart. Lenny Scott is a handsome man, big strong and an up and coming face in the underworld. Sharon is everything Lenny could ever want, after meeting at school they are inseparable and when Sharon finds out she is having a baby, they can bring their plans forward to be a real family. Sharon does not question Lenny's business dealings and it is not long before his reputation as a hard man destined for the top means they are living the good life with their sons.
Jack Johnson is the main man and he takes Lenny into his business and under his watchful eye. As Lenny climbs up the ranks he is a force to be wary of. Lenny is also keeping a secret that could destroy his family and his status and that secret must never come out.
One night when Lenny does not come home. Shron does not worry as it is not the first time he has done this, but it is his last. He is found murdered. He has been beaten to death in an act of brutality that shocks even the police, and not even Sharon knows why. Only twenty years later, Sharon finds out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue.
Get Even is set over a time span of 30 years it is a page turner. I enjoyed the story and the way it was told. Martina Cole remains an excellent story teller. If you enjoy a good thriller, I recommend Get Even.
Valerie Penny
December 6, 2015
Get Even is one of those books with annoyingly short chapters. I found this construction of chapters to be confusing in this instance, as for the first few chapters it was difficult to determine if we were in the past or present, and also whose narrative we were reading. The teaser chapters about what’s to come didn’t quite hit the mark, instead starting the novel off to a shaky start.
I guess the purpose of Get Even is to be a sharp, witty novel following the life a mob wife, but whilst it’s short and snappy, it’s not particularly clever or interesting. With all the changing perspectives and short chapters, I found it difficult to really maintain a level of interest in any of the characters.
I guess the purpose of Get Even is to be a sharp, witty novel following the life a mob wife, but whilst it’s short and snappy, it’s not particularly clever or interesting. With all the changing perspectives and short chapters, I found it difficult to really maintain a level of interest in any of the characters.
August 20, 2016
Martina Cole is one of my favourite ever authors, yet most of her die hard fans will admit that her last few releases have been more than a little lacklustre. I used to buy her books on their hardback release date, but now I am more than happy to wait for the paperback release. Sadly, Get Even isn't anything near a return to form for Martina but it did have its good moments and I did enjoy it, despite there being numerous things about it that I didn't.
The villain this time around is Lenny Scott. Lenny isn't majorly different than many of the 'Faces' who live 'the life' (yes these words and phrases are used once again in abundance like every other recent Martina book) but he does have a couple of things about him that set him apart from previous faces. I actually found him to be a rather interesting character, and felt that it was a shame that the book opened (and the blurb gives away) with the reader finding out about his fate because it doesn't actually come until much later in the book and I felt that it would have worked better had the reader not known what was coming. I wanted Lenny's past to be explored more, and indeed for his personality to be expanded upon further than it was. Back in the day we had doorstop reads from Martina which felt like multiple books in one, now, with the short chapters, the books are over just as they are getting going.
Lenny is married to Sharon who I have to say was one of the dullest characters I think I've ever read about. Martina used to create really strong female characters but what we have here is a woman who happily lives off Lenny seemingly oblivious to the kind of person that he is and then the revenge that the blurb would have us believe is dished out by her, is actually carried out by other people. It's really disappointing to read about such a weak character when strong female characters is something that Martina does (or did do) better than anybody else in the genre and the secondary characters who actually have a personality and some potential to add stuff to the story, aren't really fleshed out enough for them to be all that interesting.
Unfortunately the things I did enjoy about this story refer to some of the events that happen that the blurb doesn't give away and so I don't want to spoil things even further for those who are yet to pick up this book. If you are new to Martina's work then as always I would say go back and read her previous books but those who have read all of them and are waiting for that return to form, you sadly won't find it with Get Even. Rather than getting a new (or the same) book year after year, I would love for Martina to spend a little bit longer writing something akin to Goodnight Lady, a real doorstop read that spans decades as opposed to books like this that just essentially feel like rush jobs. But, when they still sell by the bucketload I guess that yearly release is needed.
The villain this time around is Lenny Scott. Lenny isn't majorly different than many of the 'Faces' who live 'the life' (yes these words and phrases are used once again in abundance like every other recent Martina book) but he does have a couple of things about him that set him apart from previous faces. I actually found him to be a rather interesting character, and felt that it was a shame that the book opened (and the blurb gives away) with the reader finding out about his fate because it doesn't actually come until much later in the book and I felt that it would have worked better had the reader not known what was coming. I wanted Lenny's past to be explored more, and indeed for his personality to be expanded upon further than it was. Back in the day we had doorstop reads from Martina which felt like multiple books in one, now, with the short chapters, the books are over just as they are getting going.
Lenny is married to Sharon who I have to say was one of the dullest characters I think I've ever read about. Martina used to create really strong female characters but what we have here is a woman who happily lives off Lenny seemingly oblivious to the kind of person that he is and then the revenge that the blurb would have us believe is dished out by her, is actually carried out by other people. It's really disappointing to read about such a weak character when strong female characters is something that Martina does (or did do) better than anybody else in the genre and the secondary characters who actually have a personality and some potential to add stuff to the story, aren't really fleshed out enough for them to be all that interesting.
Unfortunately the things I did enjoy about this story refer to some of the events that happen that the blurb doesn't give away and so I don't want to spoil things even further for those who are yet to pick up this book. If you are new to Martina's work then as always I would say go back and read her previous books but those who have read all of them and are waiting for that return to form, you sadly won't find it with Get Even. Rather than getting a new (or the same) book year after year, I would love for Martina to spend a little bit longer writing something akin to Goodnight Lady, a real doorstop read that spans decades as opposed to books like this that just essentially feel like rush jobs. But, when they still sell by the bucketload I guess that yearly release is needed.
July 11, 2024
Been a few years since I've read Martina Cole, so glad I picked this one up. Loved it
July 28, 2016
This is the first Martian Cole book I have ever read after wanting to read one of hers for years. Heard so much good stuff about her! As it was I was disappointed! Far from a page turner it took 3/4 through before I even got into it. I expected a lot more due to the rave reviews she gets from everyone. I did however after finishing the book like it enough to try one of her others. Personally though I thought m r arlidge writes better novels as you can't turn the pages quick enough in his!
October 21, 2015
I'm seriously bowing equally to Martina Cole for writing another perfect book and to Annie Aldington for narration that's so perfect, it's ridiculous!!
I was gripped from start to finish - more, more, more from this outstanding team please.
I was gripped from start to finish - more, more, more from this outstanding team please.
June 14, 2017
DNF on page 25. I said previously that I wasn't going to read MC's books again but I gave it another chance and really wish I hadn't bothered! I will remember the fond memories from The likes of Ladykiller and The Take but I won't be picking up anymore.
March 18, 2021
Absolutely blown away.
Easily the best book I have read so far this year.
First martina Cole book I have read and I can’t believe I have waited this long.
It follows the lives of the Faces of the London underworld. There are murders, money to be made and lives full of lies.
Short chapters that are ideal when you have to put your book down every time you here ‘muuum!’
Can’t wait to read more of her
Easily the best book I have read so far this year.
First martina Cole book I have read and I can’t believe I have waited this long.
It follows the lives of the Faces of the London underworld. There are murders, money to be made and lives full of lies.
Short chapters that are ideal when you have to put your book down every time you here ‘muuum!’
Can’t wait to read more of her
August 7, 2024
4.5, what a thrilling and gripping story
July 31, 2018
‘As her old mum used to say, where women were concerned, they never got mad if they were clever – they went one better and they got even’.
Meet Sharon. Like a lot of Martina Cole’s female lead protagonists she is a strong woman and events have conspired such that ‘She would do what needed to be done – no matter the consequences’. This sets the scene perfectly and like other Cole books we go back to the beginning. In this instance it is 1984.
Just a sixth of the way through the book and bang. A twist, a surprise that hits you harder than a cosh over the head from an Essex wideboy. The plot zips along at a frenetic rate all with the typical Cole traits of torture and ultra-violence. That’s why we love her so. That’s not the last surprise either. This time it hits you like a bullet train where you are pinned to front and taken around the East London suburbs and Essex countryside. It’s time for revenge. Get Even.
I really liked this one. The last four I had read were average 3-star affairs. I felt this one was much much better. The tension that is built up makes it very exciting. You care about the characters that you should care about and you want the horrible ones to succumb to the meted-out torture. Granted, it is not Cole of old but still damn good.
Meet Sharon. Like a lot of Martina Cole’s female lead protagonists she is a strong woman and events have conspired such that ‘She would do what needed to be done – no matter the consequences’. This sets the scene perfectly and like other Cole books we go back to the beginning. In this instance it is 1984.
Just a sixth of the way through the book and bang. A twist, a surprise that hits you harder than a cosh over the head from an Essex wideboy. The plot zips along at a frenetic rate all with the typical Cole traits of torture and ultra-violence. That’s why we love her so. That’s not the last surprise either. This time it hits you like a bullet train where you are pinned to front and taken around the East London suburbs and Essex countryside. It’s time for revenge. Get Even.
I really liked this one. The last four I had read were average 3-star affairs. I felt this one was much much better. The tension that is built up makes it very exciting. You care about the characters that you should care about and you want the horrible ones to succumb to the meted-out torture. Granted, it is not Cole of old but still damn good.
September 20, 2016
Well I have to say that Martina Cole is definitely the Queen of gangster and crime books.
Upon starting this book I thought that it was going to be another run of the mill story that has been continuously told about gangsters and crime. We start with two young people Sharon and Lenny and what seems like young love, we have Lenny a young man striving to get a name in old school gang and as he makes his way up with help of his mentor Jack Johnson . This is the first part of the book , which then takes a closer look at Lenny's growth but where we also found out all is not as it seems.
The second chapter of the book looks into Sharon's growth after her husband is brutally murdered and her second marriage to the man who she believes has brought love back into her life Ray Donovan, with the lifestyle that the gangland world brings secrets and lies will out. As I read this book within 4 days that's how captivated I became with "Get Even". One to read.
Upon starting this book I thought that it was going to be another run of the mill story that has been continuously told about gangsters and crime. We start with two young people Sharon and Lenny and what seems like young love, we have Lenny a young man striving to get a name in old school gang and as he makes his way up with help of his mentor Jack Johnson . This is the first part of the book , which then takes a closer look at Lenny's growth but where we also found out all is not as it seems.
The second chapter of the book looks into Sharon's growth after her husband is brutally murdered and her second marriage to the man who she believes has brought love back into her life Ray Donovan, with the lifestyle that the gangland world brings secrets and lies will out. As I read this book within 4 days that's how captivated I became with "Get Even". One to read.
October 31, 2015
As far as crime/thriller novels go, this is not the best one I've read all year, but having said that, this book is actually very good. The characters are interesting, and the storyline had me wanting to read on. Interesting concept between two of the characters which I've not come across before in other crime stories, so kudos to Martina for that. Great book, great writing and well written characters. Good balance of violence too. I've certainly read more violent Martina Cole books that's for sure. It had all the elements I love about all of Martina's books in just one book. Am looking forward to the next book already!
May 2, 2020
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the first two thirds of this book, the last third not so much. It had everything you've come to expect from the author with powerful strong characters and twists on the plot. Some of them you loved and wanted them to succeed and others were loathsome.
I felt a predictability about the final third of the book and maybe this was the reason I didn't enjoy it quite as much as some of Martina Cole's other books.
I enjoyed the first two thirds of this book, the last third not so much. It had everything you've come to expect from the author with powerful strong characters and twists on the plot. Some of them you loved and wanted them to succeed and others were loathsome.
I felt a predictability about the final third of the book and maybe this was the reason I didn't enjoy it quite as much as some of Martina Cole's other books.
January 9, 2017
I used to be a huge Martina Cole fan and have devoured everything she has ever written. In recent years, her story-telling has become a little lacklustre, with a lot of repetition to bulk up her books. During the first few chapters of this book, I could see this happening again and my heart sank. However, it didn't take long for the real story to kick in, and it was a blinder! Really enjoyed it.
July 21, 2016
A brilliant novel. One off the best Martina Cole books in a long time. Liked the characters even the top faces came across as having a good side as well as a dangerous side. Jealousy played a major role as well. Would recommend this novel to others.
July 5, 2016
loved this book as much as I love all of martina coles books. Nice little twist and loads of stuff happening to keep you wanting to read on.
April 1, 2018
Another cracker by Martina Cole. Explosive action, gritty characters and a plot line that will leave you enthralled.
January 12, 2024
Wow, this sucked
December 6, 2020
hm hm *clears throat* , i hope you are all ready for this review, because it’s going to be burning hot and flammable. i’m not here to talk about a book i love, for once, i’m here to talk about a book i hated. yes, you heard me, i hate this book. it even crossed the limit of “doesn’t like” , at this point, i just hate it, and i’m going to explain why right now. get some popcorns, some tea or whatever, and let’s go because it’s going to be long.
so, i won’t talk about the story, everything is written on the synopsis i put above, but i have to say one thing first. in the synopsis, it says and i quote “twenty years later, Sharon is about to find out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue. The time has come to… GET EVEN“. well, let me tell you, you’ll have to get through more than 400 pages before finally getting to the point that 1. we’re twenty years later and 2. she’s getting even, which she doesn’t really but this is another problem. i wouldn’t have mind if these 400 pages were good and palpitating like a good thriller/mystery book is supposed to be, but oh how naive i was. the title makes no sense to me and i’ve been waiting and imagining something that never came to me. imagine the disappointment.
the story starts, i’m confident, a bestseller author, she got to be a minimum good right? the beginning is a little bit catchy, i’m waiting for my powerful and independent woman protagonist… i’m still waiting and i’ve finished the book. let’s resume first what was wrong in this book and then i’ll get into details. this book was just bad to me. badly written, no character development, no complex characters, no research and detailed backgrounds. this story was predictable and the author kept repeating herself in her chapters that were 1 page long. the story kept going around in circles between all these repetitions and it looked like she wanted to build up the suspense but, no. that wasn’t it ma’am.
i don’t know what she wanted to do by raising sensitive topics but she did it badly, no moral were done at the end and the way it’s written felt that a macho man did it. the author is a woman and she dares to handle such topics lightly? i’m sorry but this doesn’t sit right with. homophobia, conjugal violences, rape… and others that i’m going to talk about later. you can’t just put them in a story to make it interesting, this is not how it works. the point of view is messy, is it the character thinking? is it the author? there is a thin limit and she doesn’t know how to deal with it. i can tell you honestly that this is the worst thriller book i’ve ever read in my life, and i’m not that peaky. i know i didn’t like it before finishing it, but i really wanted to go through this until the end, so i could make this post and flame the book entirely.
i know it’s easy to criticise without finding solution, the question is: what would i do to make this book more readable? well, the answer is simple, i would change everything. first, i would build more complex characters, there aren’t that much character is the story and building them complex backgrounds would have been very cool, but no, i feel like that was maybe too much work for the writer. building more complex backgrounds are also a big change to do, the whole story is placed in a criminal organisation but what do they do? how do they work? i have no fucking clue and i would have liked to know, this is what makes a thriller interesting. i feel like these plain and uninterested characters with no complex backgrounds are just brainless gold-fish swimming around a story that is already bad as it is. there are no development of feelings, the characters just drown them in a glass of whiskey and i find this so stupid. another thing i would do, cut down the fucking swearing by around 80%. i usually don’t mind it, but it was too much and sweetie, swearing is not a personality and doesn’t make the story more interesting. she could have wrote a really good book. really good bisexuality representation, women helping each other, more people of colour, places of people of colour in time, but no. she just said “i’m gonna write a shitty book because this is what i want to do”. another thing i have to talk about, this feeling of possession some parents (usually men let’s be honest to each other) have generally toward their daughters, it’s described in this book. badly again, but it just revolted me so much, the uncomfortable feeling i had reading this.
i’ve been looking for some other reviews to see if people thought like me. i was right, some do. i also noticed that they really like her older works though, not that it interested me, i’ll never pick up a book by this author.
okay, now let’s talk about the topics she tries to raise in her story. you can raise sensitive topics and make a moral about it at the end, make the reader understand that the author doesn’t agree with this hate and denounce it in this book. Martina Cole doesn’t feel like she needs to do that and why? these sensitive topics are lived by real people, these events are something that can happen to anyone. the way she wrote this book makes it look like 1. she’s homophobic and 2. she thinks women are there please men. obviously, this is just what i felt while reading the book, i don’t make any assumptions about her point of view on these topics.
to resume this book, you read 90% of the book and the protagonist never “gets even” and she does NOTHING, like, nothing AT ALL. and then the last 10% she wakes up and does what she has to do but it’s so… you feel like everything you read before the end is just some things to fill the storyboard, and she does it badly. i’m so angry because this book is really everything i hate, i feel like it’s written by an cheap erotic/romance writer who wanted to try doing a crime/mystery book. i don’t have anything about erotic and romantic novels, i like some of them, they can be really good even if i’m not the biggest fan, but i think you know what i want to point out here
to conclude, i felt like no efforts was put in this book and you can feel it. i’m also mad about because some writers pour their heart off writing a book, i’ve read “pachinko” and the author Min Jin Lee wrote it for 30 years!! can you imagine? maybe i feel like that because i’m disappointed, but i needed to let it out. i don’t say that you have to work 30 years on a book for it to be interesting, this is just an example about how dedicated some authors are and how not some others can be. i won’t put any quotes of this book because 1. nothing pleased me and 2. i don’t want to make poetic a book i hated, i don’t even know why i gave it 1 star… well, i finished it, so that’s at least that. i won’t make a book report about this because honestly it doesn’t really deserve but i can imagine how hard it is to write a whole standalone book with a full story, correct backgrounds, complex characters…well, surprising but i’ve read some, just last month i read “cop town” by Karin Slaughter. and she did a wonderful job, wrote the homosexuality correctly in it’s right context, the place of women in the 70s. But this book still manage to be bad when it doesn’t go further than the 80s. i hate comparing books, but if you want a better quality, Karin Slaughter does it better.
blog link: https://bateaureads.wordpress.com/202...
so, i won’t talk about the story, everything is written on the synopsis i put above, but i have to say one thing first. in the synopsis, it says and i quote “twenty years later, Sharon is about to find out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue. The time has come to… GET EVEN“. well, let me tell you, you’ll have to get through more than 400 pages before finally getting to the point that 1. we’re twenty years later and 2. she’s getting even, which she doesn’t really but this is another problem. i wouldn’t have mind if these 400 pages were good and palpitating like a good thriller/mystery book is supposed to be, but oh how naive i was. the title makes no sense to me and i’ve been waiting and imagining something that never came to me. imagine the disappointment.
the story starts, i’m confident, a bestseller author, she got to be a minimum good right? the beginning is a little bit catchy, i’m waiting for my powerful and independent woman protagonist… i’m still waiting and i’ve finished the book. let’s resume first what was wrong in this book and then i’ll get into details. this book was just bad to me. badly written, no character development, no complex characters, no research and detailed backgrounds. this story was predictable and the author kept repeating herself in her chapters that were 1 page long. the story kept going around in circles between all these repetitions and it looked like she wanted to build up the suspense but, no. that wasn’t it ma’am.
i don’t know what she wanted to do by raising sensitive topics but she did it badly, no moral were done at the end and the way it’s written felt that a macho man did it. the author is a woman and she dares to handle such topics lightly? i’m sorry but this doesn’t sit right with. homophobia, conjugal violences, rape… and others that i’m going to talk about later. you can’t just put them in a story to make it interesting, this is not how it works. the point of view is messy, is it the character thinking? is it the author? there is a thin limit and she doesn’t know how to deal with it. i can tell you honestly that this is the worst thriller book i’ve ever read in my life, and i’m not that peaky. i know i didn’t like it before finishing it, but i really wanted to go through this until the end, so i could make this post and flame the book entirely.
i know it’s easy to criticise without finding solution, the question is: what would i do to make this book more readable? well, the answer is simple, i would change everything. first, i would build more complex characters, there aren’t that much character is the story and building them complex backgrounds would have been very cool, but no, i feel like that was maybe too much work for the writer. building more complex backgrounds are also a big change to do, the whole story is placed in a criminal organisation but what do they do? how do they work? i have no fucking clue and i would have liked to know, this is what makes a thriller interesting. i feel like these plain and uninterested characters with no complex backgrounds are just brainless gold-fish swimming around a story that is already bad as it is. there are no development of feelings, the characters just drown them in a glass of whiskey and i find this so stupid. another thing i would do, cut down the fucking swearing by around 80%. i usually don’t mind it, but it was too much and sweetie, swearing is not a personality and doesn’t make the story more interesting. she could have wrote a really good book. really good bisexuality representation, women helping each other, more people of colour, places of people of colour in time, but no. she just said “i’m gonna write a shitty book because this is what i want to do”. another thing i have to talk about, this feeling of possession some parents (usually men let’s be honest to each other) have generally toward their daughters, it’s described in this book. badly again, but it just revolted me so much, the uncomfortable feeling i had reading this.
i’ve been looking for some other reviews to see if people thought like me. i was right, some do. i also noticed that they really like her older works though, not that it interested me, i’ll never pick up a book by this author.
okay, now let’s talk about the topics she tries to raise in her story. you can raise sensitive topics and make a moral about it at the end, make the reader understand that the author doesn’t agree with this hate and denounce it in this book. Martina Cole doesn’t feel like she needs to do that and why? these sensitive topics are lived by real people, these events are something that can happen to anyone. the way she wrote this book makes it look like 1. she’s homophobic and 2. she thinks women are there please men. obviously, this is just what i felt while reading the book, i don’t make any assumptions about her point of view on these topics.
to resume this book, you read 90% of the book and the protagonist never “gets even” and she does NOTHING, like, nothing AT ALL. and then the last 10% she wakes up and does what she has to do but it’s so… you feel like everything you read before the end is just some things to fill the storyboard, and she does it badly. i’m so angry because this book is really everything i hate, i feel like it’s written by an cheap erotic/romance writer who wanted to try doing a crime/mystery book. i don’t have anything about erotic and romantic novels, i like some of them, they can be really good even if i’m not the biggest fan, but i think you know what i want to point out here
to conclude, i felt like no efforts was put in this book and you can feel it. i’m also mad about because some writers pour their heart off writing a book, i’ve read “pachinko” and the author Min Jin Lee wrote it for 30 years!! can you imagine? maybe i feel like that because i’m disappointed, but i needed to let it out. i don’t say that you have to work 30 years on a book for it to be interesting, this is just an example about how dedicated some authors are and how not some others can be. i won’t put any quotes of this book because 1. nothing pleased me and 2. i don’t want to make poetic a book i hated, i don’t even know why i gave it 1 star… well, i finished it, so that’s at least that. i won’t make a book report about this because honestly it doesn’t really deserve but i can imagine how hard it is to write a whole standalone book with a full story, correct backgrounds, complex characters…well, surprising but i’ve read some, just last month i read “cop town” by Karin Slaughter. and she did a wonderful job, wrote the homosexuality correctly in it’s right context, the place of women in the 70s. But this book still manage to be bad when it doesn’t go further than the 80s. i hate comparing books, but if you want a better quality, Karin Slaughter does it better.
blog link: https://bateaureads.wordpress.com/202...
August 23, 2024
I am honestly baffled as to how this book gets such high ratings. I felt as though nothing happened for 450 pages, and then for the remaining 100 pages, a mediocre ending was created; even then, it wasn’t particularly enjoyable to read given the back story / build up was so terrible. If I hadn’t of bought this book with my own money, it would have been a DNF for me.
August 12, 2024
Love matina Cole and happy that she has dealt with homaphobia this time
October 27, 2019
Excellent
Well who knew that one person could experience such tragedy and still come out a winner.
Brilliant book and very well written.
You got to read it
Enjoy
Well who knew that one person could experience such tragedy and still come out a winner.
Brilliant book and very well written.
You got to read it
Enjoy
April 28, 2020
Typical Martina, always a good plot. Loved it. If you're new to Martina you will like it, if not you will feel like you've read it before. That's ok for me as it's a formula I enjoy.
May 12, 2025
Martina Cole always delivers. I did guess who the culprit was early on, however it didn’t spoil the plot for me. I do enjoy this genre, but a tad concerned about what that says about me 😂😂😂
October 23, 2025
Loved the story as usual, but too many characters especially at the end. Definitely a worthy Martina Cole read.
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